Artists present future visions for London in thought-provoking installation at the Horniman

Today, Bompas & Parr and the National Trust’s latest cultural installation ‘The Imminent Diorama’ opens to the public at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, revealing what one of London’s finest unprotected views of the city could look like in eighty years’ time. This new interactive installation will allow the public to see the view as it appears now and could in the future, highlighting the importance of these views to Londoners and their current lack of protection in certain areas of London, eighty years since the first protected views were proposed.

Following a public call to artists to submit their futuristic visions, the final installation includes works from eight high calibre artists, illustrators and architects: Studio Octopi, Carl Turner Architects, Design Haus Liberty, David Bray, Collective Works, Augustine Coll, Scamp Factory and Duncan Catterall.

The installation’s structure is formed by a red cone which has been inspired by sightlines and gives the impression of being metaphorically transported towards the view. Standing inside it, visitors can focus on the unprotected view in front of them. By physically turning a mechanical wheel, they can leaf-through the eight artworks superimposed on the real view of the city behind.

For Studio Octopi, the housing crisis has transformed the skyline, with tall buildings spreading into the outer boroughs and Carl Turner Architects, takes a more dystopian view of a city under water, owing to a sudden rise in sea levels.

Augustine Coll and Duncan Catterall also engage with the implications of climate change, envisioning London respectively transformed into a tropical holiday resort and into a densely populated mega city.

With its elegant visualisation, Design Haus Liberty foresees a floating layer of London up in the air; whileDavid Bray imagines a future where the city is covered in smog and only the extravagant homes of the rich – built on platforms high above the city – enjoying a view over the pollution.

With its elegant visualisation, Design Haus Liberty foresees a floating layer of London up in the air; whileDavid Bray imagines a future where the city is covered in smog and only the extravagant homes of the rich – built on platforms high above the city – enjoying a view over the pollution.